Trip Date: October 23, 2022

2022 RED ROCK ADVENTURE VACATION

Turtlehead Peak Day Hike

Sandstone Quarry
Turtlehead Notch
Turtlehead Peak aka Turtlehead Mountain (6323 ft)

Trip Report Summary

Region: Nevada

Sub-Region: Spring Mountains

Areas: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area & La Madre Mountain Wilderness

Starting & Ending Point: Sandstone Quarry Trailhead on Scenic Drive (Elev. 4300 feet)

Way Points: Sandstone Quarry & Turtlehead Peak Trail / Calico Tanks Trail junction & Turtlehead Notch & Turtlehead Peak summit (trail hike & trail scramble)

Summit: Turtlehead Peak (trail hike & trail scramble via Northeast Slope)

Approximate Stats: 5.0 miles traveled; 2000 feet gained & lost; 5.2 hours elapsed.

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Full Trip Report

Turtlehead Peak can be regarded as the “signature hike” in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA) for several good reasons. First, its geographic location and topographic projection make it highly visible from numerous vantage points, both inside and outside the NCA. Second, the ascent and descent can be reasonably completed in half a day via a trail that involves enough distance and elevation change to deliver a sense of accomplishment. Third, the summit showcases all of the area’s best natural features, including Calico Hills, Red Rock Wash, Sandstone Bluffs, White Rock Hills, and La Madre Mountain.

Nomenclature Note: The pertinent USGS topographic map refers to this landform as “Turtlehead Mountain,” but all official Red Rock Canyon NCA maps and signs refer to it as “Turtlehead Peak.”

Eileen, Fay, and I left the busy Sandstone Quarry parking lot on a bluebird Sunday morning. This parking lot serves four different trailheads, all of which are clearly marked with large signs that include a map and basic information about each trail. I have consistently found that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provides excellent signage on its recreational properties, and Red Rock Canyon has some of the best I’ve ever seen.

Turtlehead Peak Trail begins on a northwesterly course through desert flatland within the Red Rock Canyon NCA, then veers to the northeast and enters a moderately steep gully within the La Madre Mountain Wilderness. Our objective peak was always clearly visible, with its gray limestone cliffs rising high above the tan and red sandstone outcrops of Calico Hills.

As with many desert trails, there are numerous boot-beaten side paths weaving across the main trail here. However, the main trail is well-identified with a combination of marker posts and cylindrical gabion cairns.

After 1500 feet of gain, we crossed through Turtlehead Notch—an obvious low point in the ridge crest—and finished our ascent on the peak’s broad northeastern slope. There are several trail options here, with the left-hand branches generally being less steep and rocky than the right-hand branches, but all lead to the summit.

We topped out at noon (2.6 hours + 1950 feet from TH) and ducked onto the lee side of the summit rocks to escape an icy wind and eat lunch. There had been a severe windstorm at Red Rocks the previous day, with wind gusts measured as high as 67 miles per hour, and today’s northeasterly wind still had a strong bite.

The entirety of Red Rock Canyon NCA sprawled out before us. The Sandstone Bluffs, which include Mt. Wilson, Rainbow Mountain, Bridge Mountain, and several other rugged peaks, could be seen in front of the limestone crest of the regional Spring Mountains. We could also see that “Red Rock Canyon” is quite a misnomer for this NCA, because it is really a broad basin rather than a canyon (the actual Red Rock Canyon is hidden behind the Sandstone Bluffs), and most of the surrounding rocks are tan or gray rather than red. But I suppose “Tan Rock Basin NCA” just doesn’t sound sexy enough.

There had been lots of hikers on the trail during our late-morning ascent, but we encountered surprisingly few hikers during our afternoon descent, and the parking lot was mostly cleared out by the time we arrived in mid-afternoon (2.2 hours from summit). Apparently, it is best to either hike very early or very late if you want a little privacy on this extremely popular peak.

Route Map & Profile

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Photo Gallery

(click to enlarge)